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It can be hard to decide how to spend your
day on Kauai. Enjoying the land? Enjoying the sea?
There are so many things to do. Here are some of your many
options for activities on the beautiful island of Kauai:
ATVs
For some back country fun, try an ATV
tour. There are couple of different tour operators on the
islands, taking you to different areas. Not only are ATV
tours fun, some of the scenery is astounding.
- Kipu
Ranch Adventures - 1-808- 246-9288
Golf
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| Princeville
Makai Course |
There are many fabulous golf courses on
Kauai. From Kiahuna Golf Club and Po'ipu Bay Resort on the
south to the challenging Kaua'i Lagoons Course in Lihue, to the wonderful Princeville Prince and Makai courses on
the north, you're sure to have a great, challenging golf
experience. Our favorite is the Princeville Makai
course.
There are also some good public courses if
you're looking for more economical round of golf, including the
Wailua Municipal Course. When we take the kids on vacation
and they want to enjoy a short round, we take them to the 9 hole
Kukuiolono course down in Kalaheo. With green fees of
under $10 for the entire day, for affordable fun this little course can't be
beat.
For unbeatable golf deals, order the
Hawaii Golf Deals pass for huge discounts on green fees.
Pay for the number of days you want to golf during your stay,
and enjoy unlimited golf on each of those days.
Biking
If biking is your thing, you can find a
variety of paths and trails to meet your ability on Kauai.
For an easy ride you can take the paths or lanes that circle
most of the island. For mountain biking there are many
dirt roads around Po'ipu or a great area up by the Keahua
Arboretum at the end of Hwy 580. There are also trails and
dirt roads aplenty up around Koke'e State Park. If you want
uphill or downhill, head up Waimea Canyon.
 Hiking
Hiking on Kauai could have a website all
its own. Unfortunately we'll just offer a brief paragraph
on it here.
Kauai offers some truly amazing hiking
opportunities ranging from an easy path down to Queen's Bath to
strenuous all day hikes through Koke'e and Waimea Canyon, or a
trek taking several days on the breathtaking Kalalau
trail.
Lots of information on hiking trails is
available at Koke'e State Park, as well as in various guide
books. Gear is available for rent or
for purchase at a couple of different locations on the island.
- Kayak
Kauai - 1-808-826-9844
- Pedal
n Paddle - 1-808-826-9069
Horseback
Riding
Horseback rides on Kauai can be an exhilarating
experience. There are several different stables on Kauai that
each offer a different type of ride, from ocean bluffs to forest
reserve, and are available for beginners to highly experienced
riders.
Luaus
 Your
first trip to the islands simply cannot be complete without
attending a luau. A luau is a celebration and it
preparation actually starts many hours earlier when the pig (the
main dish at the feast) is prepared, wrapped in Ti or banana
leaves and put into the imu (underground oven). There it
cooks all day to perfection. The luau officially starts
when the pig is ceremoniously removed from the oven.
Traditional dishes at a luau include the kalua pork, lomi
salmon, fried rice, sweet potatoes, macaroni salad, coconut
cake, rice pudding and more.
There are a number of good luaus on the
island, each of them a little different. Most of them are
claiming "most authentic". The following
three I recommend for different reasons. For good food, I
preferred the Drums of Paradise Luau at the Hyatt. For
entertaining dancing, I preferred the luau at the Coconut Beach
Hotel, though the seating is very cramped. For the overall
aloha experience, I like Smith's Tropical Paradise. The
gardens are lovely, the atmosphere is friendly, the seating isn't too crowded, and the
show is well done and a lot of fun.
Botanical
Gardens
Kauai has some lovely botanical gardens,
great for a leisurely stroll or a quiet afternoon.
Limahuli Garden, which is on
Kauai's north shore in Ha`ena, emphasizes rare and endangered
plants of Hawai`i, plants of ethnobotanical value, and the
preservation of natural ecosystems. Tucked into the Limahuli
Valley, the garden has majestic views of Kauai's north shore and
mountains steeped in legend. Both guided and self-guided tours
available. (808) 826-1053
Located in the Lawa`i Valley on the south
shore of Kaua`i, McBryde Garden is home to major research
and conservation collections and specimen plants, including the
world's largest collection of threatened and endangered plants
of Hawai`i. National Tropical Botanical Garden headquarters and
science, conservation, and education facilities are located at
this site. Guided tours available. Reservations required. (808)
742-2623
Bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the
McBryde Garden, Allerton Garden is a masterwork of
landscape design. This once-private estate offers a variety of
sights, smells, and sounds. Hidden among the lush tropical
foliage are gravity-fed fountains and pools, statuary, and other
surprise features.
Guided tours available. Reservations required. (808)
742-2623.
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